Citizens Group Sues to Stop New State Water Rules

A citizens group opposed to new rules approved Tuesday by the Iowa commission regulating water quality has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop implementation of the rules.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund asks a judge to void the rules approved unanimously by the nine-member Environmental Protection Commission.

The rules, supported by farm groups, establish new inspection and permit processes for livestock farms.

Iowa CCI and three of its members claiming they have been personally affected by farm pollution say in the lawsuit the commission vote was illegal because five members of the EPC have a financial stake in livestock farming.

The lawsuit says they should have recused themselves from voting on the rules they claim are too weak.